St. Mary’s School is in the process of changing its curriculum to provide a more rigorous and thought-provoking education.

According to a news release, the Catholic school has developed a new program designed to focus on the whole child, not just intellectually but also spiritually, physically and emotionally.

The release said that St. Mary’s has always striven to provide quality education, encouraging students to think deeply and critically and to act virtuously.

Some of the changes to the curriculum are highlighted here:

• A study of Western civilization will complement the religion program and enhance the Christian faith formation.

• Students will begin Spanish in kindergarten. A basic study of Latin will begin in the third grade. The reinstatement of Latin into the program aims to strengthen grammar skills and lay a foundation for any future language choice.

• The reading and literature program will be expanded to include the study of classics. Language arts will continue to have a unique and distinctive focus on writing composition and developing well-reasoned arguments.

• There will be an increased emphasis on algebraic readiness and the completion of algebra before moving into high school.

• The social studies curriculum will include a broader study of world geography, a subject that often is neglected in elementary school. United States geography also will be intensified.

• Distance learning and technology use within the classroom will allow students to have global connectivity beyond the classroom walls.

• An outdoor classroom is being developed to complement the new hands-on science curriculum.

St. Mary’s School offers Pre-K through eighth-grade instruction. To learn more about the new curriculum or the school, contact the admissions director, Kim Lemons, at (731) 668-2525, ext.103, or visit www.stmarysschool.tn.org.